Apparatus for shelling nuts



H. Msn/HTH AND HfL. SMITH-,1a. APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS.

" APPLICATION FILED JULYZI, 192|. 1,418,840, PatentedJune 6, 1922. s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 2l Patented June 6, 1922.

INYENToRs H. L. SMITH AND H. L. SMITH, JR. y APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2l. 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

TNvxNToRsV ATTORNEY ASEE" nonnen n. si/irTii eNn nonnen L. siviiTn, in., ory rnrNon saone-ii COUNTY, vinGrNrA.

APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS.' i

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To all fio/wm t may concern.:

Be it known that wallonnes L. SiriTi-i andv HoniionL. SMITH, Jr., citizens of the United States, residing 'n the county ot Prince George and State otVirginia, haveinvented certain new and usei'ul lmprove-` It is al well knowrrtact that peanuts vto* be of any value as seed must have the skins enclosing the kernels enti-rely unbroken. lt is equally well known that the usual method of shelling peanuts by any means other than by hand shelling causes this skin to become bruised or brokeii,-tlius rendering 'the nuts uii'lit 'for use as seed. For this reason itlias heretofore been impose blek to satisfactorily shell peanuts for planting in any way other than by hand, which isan extremely laborious` and time-consuming"method, which at the lpresent time is extremely costly.

rEhe obvious diilicu'lty incident tothe pres! eiitmetliod of shelling peanuts by mechanical means is the'variation in the size ot' the shell relative tothe crushing members in the shelling mechanism. VWhen the nuts are passed between the shelling members which must oi necessity be in iixed relation, nuts which are unduly large are so crushed thatthe skinwithin the shell is ybroken or severely bruised, and nuts which are unduly small pass between the shelling members without having their shells broken. rlflie result of this method is since the whole mass of nuts pass'from the shelling mechanism containing many nuts with damaged skinsfand many unslielled nuts. It will be seen that any efforts directed to the adjustment oi 'the shelling members? will be unavailing to correct both ofthese faults9 since it the space between the shelling` members is increased to prevent the breaking of the skins ofthe large nuts an `even larger share of' nuts will pass through unshelled, while if the space is re duced the number of nuts with damaged skins will be increased. f

Our improved method contemplates the requisite grading or the nuts in accordance with their 'sizes and the subsequent simul- Speciication of 'Letters Patent.

Application sieri muy ai,

unsatisractory shelling tray T there is aL screen Eatented J une 6,1922..

192i. seriainaeeaer.

taneous .shelling of the various sizes, so that the shells of the nuts of each size will be satisfactorily removed without breaking the skins. @ur method 'ina-y be practiced. to accomplisli'the desired result invvafseries et intimately related operations by which the whole mass oi' lpeanuts oie. varied sizes may be shelledk without breakingtlie skins, and

the shelled nuts satisfactorily deliveredat a comnionpoint.

' We have indicated' in the di'awingsifiled y herewith one form o'lapparatus which illus` f trates the practice of ouriinproved method, but it is to be clearly understood `that lour.` method may be practiced bya widevariety of means, and our claim to novelty extends to the improved'method as well as` thepref ierred form of apparatus'hereinafter fully described.

. liitliedrawings:

` Fig. lisa side elevation of our apparatus.y

lig.A 2 is another sideelevation showing theopposite side.

Fig. is a transversel .vertical section through the `shelling mechanism.

Fig. l is a plan yview of. the screening tray.

Fig. 5 is a. plan view of the grading tray. l Fig. Gisa plan view of a second screening'tra-y. Y

Fig. 7 iis avertical sectionl ot the hopper.

Fig. 8 isla perspective Our-r improved shelling apparatus is mounted in a suitable frame F lof any ordinary torni oit' construction, provided withv twodiagonal .struts Fl and lll-2,. liori-` zontal/cross braces F3 and .ET-'Jl being view ofthe Sheller."

disposed between the strutsk ITM-1, lll-ZV and the sides oit the `frame' Fp A hopper H is placed upon the opening l HMZL downwardly from its end ln thebottom of the having three por- Tlie first portion S slightly inclined beneath the hopper tions of differingl mesh.

A top ofthe ramell atoiie end,l and isi-provided witha dischargeopen- F. lThe trayT is so disposed that one wider' than the` length. of tlieopening H-l- The'tmy T is.

is divided into ery with the blades at the end of the tray T beneath the hopper H is of fine mesh, the second portion Sl in the middle of the tray T is of an average mesh and the third portion S-2 at the lower end of the tray T of a coarse mesh. The tray `T is provided with a closed compartment S-3 below the portion S and a closed compartment S-si below the portion S--l, which are provided `respectively with discharge openings S-5 and 3*6. The end of the tray T adjacent portion S-2 is provided with the discharge opening S-T.

A second tray T-2 is supported beneath tray T by spring straps T--3 bolted to the tray T-2 and the cross braces F3, F`ll and the shelling mechanism G. This tray Th2 is slightly inc-lined downwardly reversely to the tray T. and is provided at its end adjacent tray T with two upwardly projecting pins T-4, T-t which are vertically slidable through openings S-8, S-S in plate S-9 attached to the tray T. The tray T-2 an upper `and lower compartment by a screen S-10- The upper compartment is provided at the lower 'end of the tray T-Q with a slanting guide plate S-l1 adjacent its discharge opening S`l2, which is disposed toward one side of the end oi the tray T-2, and the lower compartment is provided at the lower end of the tray T-Q with a slanting guide late S--lB adjacent the discharge opening -l4 toward the opposite side of the end oi" the tray T-2.

Located beneath the `openings tlf-12, S-l4 in the ends of the compartments of the tray T-2, is the casing G containing the shelling` 1nechanism,`which has a cover G-l into which is received the end of the i Two semi circular concaves tray T-2. G-2, G-S are disposedv in the casing G, formed of shelling bars (ir-4t, G-5 respectively. These` concaves G2, -3` are so disposed relative to the tray T-2, that the concave G-2 is beneath the opening S-l2 and the concave (ir-Sis beneath the opening SEM. The radius ofthe concave G`2 is greater than that of the concave G-3. The shaft GM@ is concentrically mounted relative to the concaves G-2, (Er- 3, in suitable bearings' Fh, F-5,.on the ried upon this shaft {CT-6 is the rotary shelling member G-7 provided uponits periph- G-8 adapted with the concaves G-2, G-3. The blades G-8 are disposed parallel to theshaft G- and at uniform distance from said shaft. By reason of the disparity of the radii of the concaves (ir-2, G-S it will be seen that greater space is aii'orded between the blades G`8 and the shelling bars G-li of the concave G-2, than is afforded between the blades (ir-8 and the shelling bars 6?*5 of the concave G-3. A circular disc G-9 surrounds the member Gf in a vertical plane, and serves as a separator between the conframe F. Carto co-act caves (l`2, G-3, thus dividing the casing G into two compartments above the concaves G^-2 and Gr-3- Beneath the concaves G2, 5G-3, the casing G is provided with a discharge opening G-10- A pulley G--ll is provided upon one end of the shaft G-7 by which power may be applied to the device. i A suction fan A is mounted on a shaft A-l journaled on the struts F-l, F-2 and provided with a pulley A 2 connected by a belt A-3 with a pulley Gre-i2 upon the shaft G-*ti The fan A is provided with an intake conduit Afd into the lower end of which the discharge opening (Jl-l0 opens. The open end A-5 of the conduit A-4 is directly below the opening G-10. The conduit A-a is provided with a valve A-6. The fan A is provided with a discharge conduit A-T. A discharge chute A-8 communicates with the discharge conduit A-7 and has its upper open end adapted to receive material discharged through the opening S-5 in the tray T.

eneath the opening A-5, there is disposed a swingable tray T- supported upon spring strapsT-G bolted to the tray "-5 and the frame F. The tray T-.5 is slightly inclined downwardly from its'end beneath the opening A-5. The tray T`5 is provided with a screen T-7 having a mesh somewhat finer than that of the screen Sl0 and a second screen T+S having a somewhat coarser mesh. A compartment T-9 is provided in the tray T- under the screen T-7 having a discharge opening T--l0, and a compartment T-ll is provided in the tray T-r under the screen T-S having a discharge opening Tl. A guard plate T-l3 is provided across the lower edge` of the screen T-S. `The tray T-is provided at its lower end` with a discharge opening T-1LL The shaft Ahi is provided with an eccentric cam A-9 which oscillates the collar A-l0 thereon which is connected by the link A-ll to the tray T-2. The collar A-1O is also connected bythe link A512 to the tray T-5. It will be obvious that the rotation of the shaft A-l` causes the reciprocation of the trays T-2 and TM5, and by reason of their mounting on the spring straps T-3 and T-G respectively these trays are caused to rise and fall as theyare reciprocated. The pin and slot connection between the causes the tray T to be reciprocated in unison with the tray T-2, but owing to the relative disposition of the spring straps T-1 and T-3 the trays T and T-*2 are caused to approach and recede as they are reciprocate v The operation of our preferred form of apparatus whereby our novel method is practiced is as follows:

Peanuts of various sizes, as they come the tray T is caused to reciprocate,` thusv causing the peanuts to be discharged from the` hopper H into the tray T. .Byl reason ot the inclination and reciprocation 'of the tray T, the peanuts pass over the screen S. The smaller openings in the screen S permitting `any dirt or small particles to pass throu `h the screen S and into the compartment 0 3 in the bottom ot the tray T, `,trom which compartment such refuse may ybedischarged through the discharge yopening' Sly- 5, being sucked through the chute A-8 into the discharge conduit ,Ar-7'. Since the holes in the screen S encountered' by the peanuts are small, only dirt and small particles are admitted therethrough and the peanuts pass on to the screen S-l which is:

provided with holes of sufficient size to per-4 mit any broken nuts to pass through into the compartment S-t, from which they are discharged through the opening S-.-6. The unshelled peanuts pass `through screen S-Q and 'l'all into the tray T-2. Any sticks, vines, or other refuse passing through tray T are not permitted to pass through the screen S2 but pass out of the tray T at the discharge opening- S- at the lowerk end of the tray T.

The peanuts falling into the tray T-2 are received upon the screens-10 which is provided with holes so designed as to allow all nuts below a certain size to pass therethrough. These nuts are received into the lower compartment of the tray T-2, while the remaining nuts ot a size too large to be admitted through the holes in the screen Svi() remain in the upper compartment of the tray T-2. Owing to the inclination and reciprocation of the tray T--2, the peanuts in both compartments are caused to travel to the lower end of the tray T-2 where -they are guided by the guide-plates Sp-l'l and S-13 in the two compartments to the dis charge openings Sl2 and S-la The smaller nuts in the lower compartment issuing through the discharge kopening S-ll pass through the cover GP-l and are received between the concave `(ir-2 and the shelling member (ir-J?. The larger nuts in the upper compartment issuing through the discharge opening S-l2 pass through the cover G-l and are received between the concave G-Q' and the shelling member (ir-7. The disc (ir- 9 ettectually separates thenuts received upon the two concaves @-2 and (dr-3.

Power having been applied to the pulley (l-11, the shelling` member fir-7 is caused to rotate. l

The space between the concaveG-Q and the blades Gf-S ot the shelling member G-T is so designed relative to the size ot the mesh ot the screen S-Q thatthe nuts receivedinto this space will havetheir shells cracked but will not have their skins broken by the .action'ot the blades G-S and the v shelling hars G-a ol' the concave G-r In like manner', the space between the concave Gre-.3 andthe blades,v G-S of the shelling member: G-T is so `designed relativeto the size of theholes in the screen S-lO that the nuts received into this space will have their shells cracked but will not have 4their skins broken bythe action ot the blades G-S and the shelling bars G- of the concave (ir-3.`

After th e," shelling operation, the nuts and cracked i shells pass through?-` the concaves G-Q and (ie-3 and commingle inthe bottom of" the shelling mechanism G, whence they vpass through the discharge opening G-lO into the intake 'conduit A-f- The rotation of the shaft A-l causes they tan A to create a suction draft through the intake conduit fir-4 which is suliicient 'to 'draw the broken shellsy and refuse from the mass enteringthe intake conduit A-l from the shelling mechanisniG. The valve AMG is provided tor the purpose of regulating the force .oii4 the suction dra-'tt in the conduit it- 4. ',These shells and refuse are drawn into the fan A and blown through the discharge conduit Af-p The weight 01"' the shelled nuts ispsutlicient to overcome the etfect of the suction draft andthe nuts fall through the open end A of the intake conduit A-4 and are received upon they screen T--7 in the tray T-5. Due to the inclination and reciprocation of the tray T- the shelled nuts are caused to pass along the screen T-7. The holes in this screen T7 are so designed as to allow any broken nuts or small particles ot refuse to pass therethrough into the compartment T-9 and be discharged through the opening T-10. The screened, shelled nuts pass through the screen T-S into the compartment T-11 and are discharged through the opening` T-lQ. Any lshells or other refuse in the tray T-5 pass out through the opening T-lt in the lowerend of the tray T45. The abutment "lf-13 prevents the: shelled nuttrom escaping through the opening lber of grading trays may vary and a corresponding variation obtain inthe number of shelling concaves. The details of construction herein set forth illustrate only one embodiment ot an apparatus designed to prac tice our process, and we refer for the sin combination oit means adapted to :separate the nuts into classes in accordance with their sizes; tivo shelling concaves, each adapted to receive the .nuts of a single class; a shelling member adapted to co-act `with both of said concaves; and a circular plate projecting be* yond the periphery of said memberand between said concaves, adapted to separate the nuts on one concave from the nuts on the other concave.

2. In an apparatus for shelling nuts, the combination of means adapted to separate the nuts into classes in accordance with their sizes; two shelling concaves, each adapted to receive the nuts of a single class; a cylindrical shelling member adapted to co-act with both of said concaves; plate surrounding said member and adapted to separate the nuts on one concave from the nuts on the other concave. A y

In an apparatus for shelling nuts, the combination of a hopper; a tray adapted to receive nuts from said hopper and provided With a plurality of compartments, each provided With a discharge port; a screen in said tray adapted to grade the nuts in aoand a circular` ifiiaelio cordance with their sizes and thereby determine their admission to the several coin partments; a shelling, chamber; and a shell-` ing member in said chamber provided with separating` means adapted to iorm a plura`l ityot` compartments in said chamber, each of said compartments being` adjacent one of said ports and adapted to receive the nuts from its adjacent port.

4. In an `apparatus for shelling nuts, the combination ot' a shelling chamber; a crushing roller oi' uniform diameter mounted for rotation 'in said chamber; a plurality oi crushingconcavesof dil'lering radii mounted in said chamber concentric with said roller; a grading tray; a plurality oi compartments in said tray; a discharge port in each compartment adapted to discharge nuts from said compartment between one of said con HORACE L. sMiri-i. p Hoef/ron L. sMrTH, JR. 

